• Delaware
    • New Castle County
    • Kent County
    • Sussex County
  • Nearby
    • Pennsylvania
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • Washington DC
  • Vacation & Travel
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Newsletter

Delaware To Do

News, foods, fun finds and reviews

  • Home
  • To Dos
    • Free or Nearly Free
    • Family Friendly
    • History & Historic Sites
    • Museums & Gardens
    • Outdoors
    • Festivals & Community Days
    • Shows & Concerts
    • Fitness & Health
    • Classes
    • Shopping
    • Services & Salons
    • Sports
    • Holidays
  • Food & Drink
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Printables
  • Deals & Discounts
    • Giveaways
  • Event Calendar
    • Submit an event
  • All posts

Robot Revolution at the Franklin Institute: Review, Discount Codes

10/21/2016 by Robin Elton

We visited the Robot Revolution at the Franklin Institute on opening day (my birthday!). Here’s what you need to know before you go, along with discount codes and ways to save.

franklin institute robot revoluition

Like most people, I’m fascinated by robots. I’m amazed at the leaps in technology and innovation that have brought us robots that “think” and learn, that move smoothly, that appear more and more human-like. (I’m also sort of freaked out by those exact same things, thanks to a healthy love of science fiction.)

So when we were invited to the opening day of the Robot Revolution exhibit at the Franklin Institute, there was no question about whether we would go, even though it was my birthday and I had a party to throw and a house I was supposed to clean beforehand. I know where my priorities lie. 

robot revolution Franklin Institute

The Robot Revolution exhibit is supported by Google.org with additional major support from The Boeing Company, and consists of 40 robots, more than half of which can be operated or interacted with. It’s a timed exhibit, meaning you’ll receive a separate ticket for a specific time to enter the exhibit (in theory, this keeps crowds down).

We arrived just as the museum was opening and I can’t recommend that tactic enough. Always aim to visit first thing in the morning or during the week to get the most of the interactive exhibits.

I spent a lot of time watching “Baxter” play tic-tac-toe against two people at once, and another robot act as Blackjack dealer. The robots didn’t always win, but they won a lot.

robot revolution Franklin Institute

robot revolution Franklin Institute

I stood transfixed as a robot solved a Rubik’s cube, over and over, like it was nothing.

I made Cass tell this robot to do pushups and karate chops roughly a thousand times.

robot revolution Franklin Institute

robot revolution Franklin Institute

I don’t know why, but I find a robot doing pushups just delightful. Look at that form!

There’s also a simulated self-driving Google Car, soccer ‘bots games throughout the day (snag a spot before the starting time and guard it vigilantly; we had a dad place his much taller kid right in front of Cass as the game started so we couldn’t see), an all-terrain crawling robot developed by UPenn, a therapeutic baby seal robot that reacts to your touch, and an interactive live drone show, Drone Zone.

Chances for kids to work on their coding skills abound, and I was surprised by how effortlessly Cass navigated these. She’s encountered them or something similar before, online or at school, and they were second nature to her. Kids today are growing up in a wholly different world, a world where they are immersed in robots, computers and tech from the get go, and it was really interesting to see this exhibit through my own lens and compare it to hers.

robot revolution Franklin Institute

robot revolution Franklin Institute

As I mentioned, our time to visit the museum was limited, but we did make sure to visit the exhibit’s gift shop: there’s a treasure trove of awesome kits, sets and toys for kids and kids at heart here. I wanted all the robot things, especially all the wonderfully weird windup robots, but settled for now on a pair of robot earrings.

We made a quick detour to visit the SportsZone (Cass’s favorite) and Newton’s Dream (my favorite, a kinetic sculpture where you watch balls travel through tracks and tunnels). Then we saw that a movie was about to start in the planetarium, so we ducked in to watch a segment about wild weather throughout the solar system. I hadn’t realized it was Cass’s first planetarium experience, and she about jumped out of her seat a number of times. It was great.

My point being: the Franklin really never gets old, even as your kids get older! The travelling exhibits are always worth catching (Jurassic World: The Exhibition starts November 25th) and it’s always fun revisiting old favorites. If you’re going to visit more than once a year— and if you have kids, you really should— a family membership is the way to go. It’s a great deal and as a bonus you’ll get into the Robot Revolution exhibit for free until the end of the year.

robot revolution franklin institute

If you’re only planning on doing the trip once, though, here are some ways to save.

Franklin Institute Discounts

  1. Use promo code MBROBOT to receive $5.00 off up to 4 adult, daytime tickets to Robot Revolution (includes General Admission to The Franklin Institute). Limit 4 tickets per person. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Upgrades available on-site for IMAX and 3D Theater. Redeemable online, over the phone 215-448-1200 or at the Ticketing Desk. Processing fees apply when ordering tickets in advance. Excludes holidays. Valid through 12/31/16.
  2. Receive $5 off Daytime Adult Admission tickets to Robot Revolution (includes General Admission) at the Franklin Institute when you present your valid SEPTA TrailPass, TransPass, One Day Independence Pass, SEPTA Key Card or SEPTA Employee ID. Limit 4 tickets per person. Redeemable online with vode SEROBOT over the phone or at the Ticketing Desk. Processing fees apply when ordering tickets in advance. Valid through 3/19/17.
  3. Save 45% off admission to The Franklin Institute, plus 3 more top Philadelphia attractions: Big Bus Company & Philadelphia Trolley Works, One Liberty Observation Deck, and Adventure Aquarium OR Philadelphia Zoo. Valid 9-days. Cost: Adult $59 (value $108); Child (2-12) $39. Ask for CityPASS when you arrive at The Franklin Institute or buy online.

 

In recap:

Robot Revolution will be at the Franklin Institute until April 2nd, 2017. It’s fascinating for kids and adults alike, and I think even more fascinating to see how kids and adults experience it differently. Make sure to visit before it’s gone!

 

 

Filed Under: Deals & Discounts, Family Friendly, Fun Finds, Indoors, Museums & Gardens, News, Philly, Reviews, Tech, To Dos, Vacation & Travel Tagged With: Franklin Institute, Franklin Institute discount codes, robot revolution

Follow Delaware To Do

Get Our Newsletter

Click here to subscribe!

Your Delaware To Do List

« July 2018 » loading...
S M T W T F S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
Wed 18

Netting in the Marsh

July 18 @ 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Wed 18

STREAM for tweens and teens

July 18 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Wed 18

Pay What You Wish: Philadelphia Art Museum

July 18 @ 5:00 pm - 8:45 pm
Wed 18

Free Admission to the Franklin Institute

July 18 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Wed 18

Oddball Bingo

July 18 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Wed 18

College Night at Price Lanes

July 18 @ 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Thu 19

Tech-knowledge-y Lab

July 19 @ 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Thu 19

Free Admission Delaware Art Museum

July 19 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Thu 19

Open Mic at CCArts

July 19 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Fri 20

Mtn. Dew Day at Delaware State Fair

July 20

Search Delawaretodo.com

Where Kids Eat Free in Delaware

kids eat free delaware
Copyright © 2016 Delaware To Do. All Rights Reserved. | Design and Development by eDesign-Pro Company